The shabraque worn on officers’ chargers was rounded at the corners for lancer and light dragoon regiments. The 9th lancers had for many years had embroidery on the rear part of the shabraque only, leaving the foreparts plain blue. But from 1855 the regiment embroidered all four corners. The royal cypher was at this stage VR for Queen Victoria. The reverse cypher of Queen Adelaide was discontinued for the horse furniture, although revived in the 20th century for the drum-horse. The 1861 Dress Regulations describe shabraques for officers of Light Dragoons and Lancers:
‘To be of blue cloth, cut round before and behind, three feet eleven inches in length, two feet six inches in depth, trimmed with gold overall lace, lined moleskin.’
The cylindrical blue valise was strapped on the back of the saddle, although this was discontinued for dress parades c1875. A black sheepskin with a red edge covered the saddle and valise.
This was painted by Benjamin Cam Norton in 1871. He inscribed the name of the charger, Napper Tandy, on the wall of the stable. This name was taken from Irish history; James Napper Tandy was a prominent 18th century Republican who sided with the American colonists and French Revolutionaries. He was arrested by the British and sentenced to hang, but reprieved on the insistence of Napoleon in the Treaty of Amiens. He lived for a few months exiled in France before dying of dysentery in 1803.
